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China Bank celebrates 98 years

Friday, August 17, 2018

2018 marks China Banking Corporation’s (China Bank) 98 years of enduring partnerships with its customers, employees, and shareholders. To celebrate this milestone and in preparation for its centennial anniversary in 2020, the Bank is strengthening its physical and digital connections to build on its foundation of strong relationships.

From its initial branch in Calle Rosario—what is now No. 90 Quintin Paredes Street, Binondo, Manila—China Bank now has a nationwide footprint of 613 branches (452 for the main bank and 161 for the savings bank). This includes the 16 China Bank branches opened from January to August in strategic Metro Manila and provincial locations.

The Bank combines the time-tested advantages of face-to-face interactions with technological innovations. Earlier this year, it launched the new and improved China Bank Mobile App. Aside from the usual functionalities for convenient banking on the go, the app has pre-login features like ATM/Branch locator, exchange rates viewer, and loan calculator/simulator, and new functionalities that no other mobile banking app has: SLEX RFID Reload, JUMP, and NOW features.

The SLEX RFID Reload feature is particularly useful for customers who frequently pass through the South Luzon Expressway as they now have a more convenient option for reloading their SLEX RFIDs.

For customers looking for an easy way to pay or transfer funds to someone, they can use the JUMP or Just Use your Mobile Phone (Pay to Mobile) feature. This enables the payment to anyone just by keying in their mobile phone number. No need to get their bank account details. In a JUMP transaction, the amount paid/transferred by a China Bank Mobile App customer can be conveniently withdrawn by his or her payee from a China Bank ATM (no ATM card needed) or deposited to the payee’s China Bank account or account in another bank (via InstaPay) with only the passcode and OTP.

At times when emergency cash is needed but the ATM card is not on hand, the NOW or No card On Withdrawal (Emergency Cash) feature will come in handy as it allows customers to make card-less withdrawals at China Bank ATMs. After making the NOW transaction on the China Bank Mobile App, a One-Time PIN will be sent through SMS to the customer’s mobile phone for accessing the emergency cash via ATM.

As the Bank continues to expand and innovate to better serve the next generation of customers, it draws inspiration and lessons from its rich heritage. Built in 1924, China Bank’s original head office, a seven-story neoclassical building on Dasmarinas corner Juan Luna Sts., is slated for restoration by Noche + Architects led by Architect Manolo Noche of the Heritage Conservation Society with advocacy for the restoration and renewal of the Binondo area.

Still standing strong today as the Bank’s Binondo headquarters, the architectural monument is a testament to the Bank’s heritage and resilience. Restoration is expected to be completed in time for the Bank’s centennial festivities in 2020.

The 2018 Service Awards held in Cebu on August 10 and in Makati on August 16 capped off the Bank’s 98th anniversary celebration. “I consider having so many loyal awardees as an indicator of success and a competitive advantage,” said China Bank President William C. Whang. China Bank recognized a total of 533 employees for their dedicated service for the last 10, 15, up to 40 years.